Ukraine says city of Zaporizhzhia hit by ‘massive’ Russian drone attack

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine said on Friday that the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia was hit with a “massive” Russian drone attack overnight.

Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram that the city was struck nine times and residential buildings, commercial facilities and infrastructure were hit.

Fedorov said most of the drones launched were shot down on approach to the city, about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the frontline, preventing any casualties among the local population.

He said the overnight attack also targeted local energy infrastructure, but added there is power supply to the region as of Friday morning.

State Emergency Service (DSNS) said in a separate statement that a shopping center in the city caught fire during the second wave of the attack.

In the first wave on Thursday evening, a non-residential extension to a high-rise building and two outbuildings caught fire, according to the DSNS.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed air defenses shot down 86 out of 116 drones launched by Russia overnight.

Russia has yet to comment on Ukraine’s claims, though its Defense Ministry said it launched seven strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure over the past week, including military industry enterprises, energy facilities, and port infrastructure, in response to strikes.

The ministry in an earlier statement said air defenses downed 64 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have frequently traded accusations about targeting each other’s energy facilities in winter, despite continuing discussions on a US-backed peace plan to end the nearly four-year war.